​Garry Monk is under increasing pressure to turn Middlesbrough's ailing ​Championship form around, according to the ​Daily Star.

The ex-​Swansea City and ​Leeds United manager was only appointed as Aitor Karanka's successor on Teeside in the summer, but has failed to make Boro title contenders in the Championship so far this season.

Boro currently find themselves languishing in ninth position in the standings - 18 points off current leaders Wolves - with only eight wins attained from 20 matches, and Monk's position at the club is now under increasing scrutiny.

The club's chairman Steve Gibson had promised Boro's fanbase that Monk and his charges would "smash the Championship" after he bankrolled a summer spending spree including the big-money captures of Britt Assombalonga and Martin Braithwaite.

However, Monk has failed to mount a successful run to the top of England's second tier as ​Middlesbrough look for an immediate return to the ​Premier League following last season's relegation.

Three defeats in the past seven league games have left Boro seven points off the last play-off place and, while the points tally of seven between them and sixth-placed ​Derby isn't insurmountable, fans are growing restless over their team's inconsistent form.

Gibson is reportedly looking for a vast improvement in results from Monk throughout December despite now being labelled 100-1 outsiders to win the title, and the 38-year-old will be expected to take at least 11 points from his side's next five fixtures.

A home clash against ​Ipswich Town is followed by trips to Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday, before home encounters with ​Bolton and ​Aston Villa on 26th and 30th December see out the month for Middlesbrough.

Which Manager From the Premier League's 'Big 6' is Most Likely to Face the Axe This Season?

Antonio Conte

Arsène Wenger

José Mourinho

Jürgen Klopp

Mauricio Pochettino

Pep Guardiola

Failure to win their home games and any defeat on the road would see Boro slip even further away from the promotion spots, and Monk could even find himself out of work at the turn of the year if he doesn't get their season back on track.

90min is a global football media and technology company focused on the digital generation. 90min taps into the passion and dedication of the hyper-connected fan by powering the production of authentic, engaging and socially driven content distributed to a rapidly growing audience of over 70 million monthly users in 11 languages across web, mobile and social...